Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board was requested to reduce its floor space from 25,000 metres squared to 10,000 metres squared in its revised business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14546/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that Galway Roscommon ETB (GRETB) have been supported by SOLAS in developing their Preliminary Business Case (PBC) proposal for Galway City under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects fund. The development of a robust PBC is fundamental to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.

The proposal put forward by GRETB relates to the development of a new state-of-the-art FET campus on a site adjacent to its Mervue Training facility. Due to the close proximity of this training Centre to Atlantic Technological University and the University of Galway, the new development proposes to strengthen tertiary provision in Galway City and the wider region.

SOLAS and department officials met with all twelve ETBs who were progressing business cases under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future Major Projects fund in April and May of 2024 where each ETB gave a presentation on their proposals. Following these meetings each ETB including GRETB was provided with feedback on its' proposals in the context of affordability, value for money and relevant regional and national FET policy objectives. All ETBs were asked to refine their business case proposals to ensure they delivered on their priority infrastructure requirements within the available funding parameters. ETBs were to submit their proposals to SOLAS for evaluation once this work was completed.

I understand that GRETB has now submitted its' business case proposal to SOLAS for evaluation, which is scheduled to take place during the first week of April. Following evaluation, PBCs which meet the relevant criteria will progress to the next stage of development as part of the Pre-tender – Project Design, Planning and Procurement Strategy Stage.